Development Of Society Research Articles

Subnationalization as a Megatrend: World Development after Westphalia

Introduction. The transformation of the world order has been one of the main topics of political research since the 1990s. Nevertheless, the dominant approaches are characterized by a certain one-dimensionality. In the scientific and expert discourse, predominant attention is paid to the prospects of forming a new configuration of great powers on the world stage, i.e. a new iteration of the world order based on the state-centered (Westphalian) paradigm. Meanwhile, in the last thirty to fifty years, in addition to a significant change in the world political actor lineup, the state itself has been undergoing profound structural changes, and other actors are also acquiring a new quality. And an important element of this institutional dynamics of states is associated with the processes of subnationalization, which can be understood as the strengthening of the political subjectivity of subnational regions and local communities. And this has not only domestic political, but also an in-creasingly tangible international political dimension. How does the subnational factor (subnationalization) affect the transformation of the world order and the problem of development?Materials and Methods. Data from different political-geographical areas and different spheres of subnational political activity are used. The range of case studies presented is intended to demonstrate the significance of the subnational factor in a wide variety of societies and diverse states. It is important to emphasize that subnationalization is not a Western phenomenon, as it is often inertially presented in academic discourse. Also, subnationalization is less and less tied to federalism as the most appropriate type of state structure. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study consists of the actor approach and the comparative method for comparing processes in different subnational regions. Elements of identity theory are also applied.Results of the study. Subnationalization is a phenomenon related, but not reducible to regionalization. It is related to the problem of global and country socio-political development. The crisis of numerous sustainable development programs generates alternative concepts, which are also influenced by the subnational factor.Discussion and conclusion. The author concludes that sub-nationalization is an independent phenomenon and trend that should be taken into account in the analysis of current processes and projecting scenarios of world development. At the same time, sub-nationalization correlates with the problem of development in a binary way, being both a resource and a tool. Both socio-political development of specific societies and world political evolution will increasingly rely on the subnational factor.

Decoupling evolution of water footprint of energy and its driving factors: Evidence from Northeast China.

Energy and water are interlinked and inseparable resources of vital importance to the survival and development of human society. Exploring the relationship between energy and water is of great practical significance for the sustainable development of resources. The uneven regional distribution of energy and water in China has exacerbated energy-related water shortages. Base on the water footprint of energy (WFE), this paper takes Northeast China, the old industrial base, as the research object, and explores the regional distribution characteristics and development trend of WFE, so as to provide quantitative basis for the development of regional energy transformation in coordination with energy and water. This study uses the ISO model and the decoupling model, and analyzes the spatial and temporal changes in the water footprint (WF) of energies and the decoupling effects in Northeast China from the perspective of energy production. The findings show: (1) the WFE grew slowly, and the WF of power gradually exceeded that of fossil energy; (2) the spatial distribution of WFE was unbalanced, with higher WF of fossil energy in Heilongjiang and higher WF of power in Jilin and Liaoning; (3) the decoupling status of WFE from GDP was better than that of WFE from total water consumption. This study also analyzes the driving factors of indicators of water endowment, economic development, energy consumption, environmental governance and life quality, on the WFE based on the Lasso model, and provide policy implications for the coordinated development of energy and water in Northeast China.

Specifics of the long-term study of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi’s tomb complex in Turkestan

Ensuring the process of sustainable development includes special attention to cultural heritage. Effective social strategies are being built on the basis of the use of cultural heritage. Historical buildings are, in fact, the physical preservation of the memory of the development of society in all its diversity. Of particular interest are the “historical scars”, which record phenomena such as a change in the design concept during construction; destruction, restoration, and addition of individual elements; a change and return of the original function; a change in the interpretation of the appearance; reconstruction and renovation. A peculiar illustration of this process is the history of the tomb complex of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi in Turkestan. During the development of the complex, the original idea was adjusted. The complex became more complicated, completed, and rebuilt. A special place is occupied by the innovative approach applied during the reconstruction at the end of the 14th century. The grandiose plan of Emir Timur has not been fully realized. The construction resumed at the end of the 16th century but did not lead to the completion of the complex. The unfinished building, which has a huge historical and cultural potential, can now be completed. This will illustrate the continuity of the cultural process as part of sustainable development.

VisuaLies: Towards a Classification of Misinfovis Situations

This paper presents VisuaLies, a workshop designed to engage citizens in identifying misleading information visualisations (Misinfovis). The workshop aims to validate and enhance the Classification of Misinfovis Situations (CMiS), a classification system for lay citizens to spot the formal characteristics of Misinfovis, which we call ‘Misinfovis Situations’. Conducted with participants of varying educational backgrounds, VisuaLies included activities to assess pre-existing knowledge, familiarise with Misinfovis concepts, classify Misinfovis examples and lead to an updated version of CMiS featuring fewer Situations with more accessible language. This study underscores the importance of involving lay people in recognising and describing Misinfovis with their own words to support the development of inclusive knowledge societies. Future iterations of VisuaLies aim to involve diverse audiences and refine feedback collection methods to further enhance the classification’s effectiveness.

The Economic Concept of Education in Islam

This paper explains the concept of education economics in Islam. The economics of education in Islam has a purpose: to reflect the principles and values of Islam, and its goals involve social, economic, and moral aspects. In addition, there are also economic uses of education in Islam, namely: involving its contribution to the social, economic, and moral development of society. The concept of educational economics in Islam is based on ethical principles and Islamic values that include justice, empowerment, and blessings. Some of the main aspects of the concept are: involving education, wealth distribution, and social responsibility. In addition, there are several important points in the concept of education economics in Islam, namely the importance of education, justice in wealth distribution, economic empowerment, prohibition of riba (interest), social responsibility, sustainable economic growth, transparency and accountability, respect for employment, development.

Catalyst-Free Nitrogen Fixation by Microdroplets through a Radical-Mediated Disproportionation Mechanism under Ambient Conditions.

Nitrogen fixation is essential for the sustainable development of both human society and the environment. Due to the chemical inertness of the N≡N bond, the traditional Haber-Bosch process operates under extreme conditions, making nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions highly desirable but challenging. In this study, we present an ultrasonic atomizing microdroplet method that achieves nitrogen fixation using water and air under ambient conditions in a rationally designed sealed device, without the need for any catalyst. The total nitrogen fixation rate achieved is 6.99 μmol/h, yielding ammonium as the reduction product and nitrite and nitrate as the oxidation products, with hydrogen peroxide produced as a byproduct at a rate of 4.29 μmol/h. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, we captured reactive species, including hydrogen, hydroxyl, singlet oxygen, superoxide anion, and NO radicals. In conjunction with in situ mass spectrometry (MS) and isotope labeling, we confirmed the presence of nitrogen-containing intermediates, such as HN═NOH+•, H2N-N(OH)2+•, HNO+, and NH2OH+•. Supported by these findings and theoretical calculations, we propose a radical-mediated nitrogen disproportionation mechanism. Simulations of naturally occurring condensed microdroplets also demonstrated nitrogen redox fixation. This microdroplet-based method not only offers a potential pathway for nitrogen fixation in practical applications and sustainable development but also deepens our understanding of the natural nitrogen cycle.

Promoting entrepreneurial culture for sustainable development in Emirati society

Promoting entrepreneurial culture for sustainable development in Emirati society

Sustainable practices in lead acid battery recycling

Recycling automotive batteries is a vital practice in the context of sustainability. Purchasing power in developing and emerging economies has increased dramatically over the past decades, especially when considering the proliferation of consumer cars worldwide. Consequently, the growing manufacturing volume of automotive batteries inevitably leads to increased battery waste, thus placing significant pressure on the sustainable development of human society. Recycling lead-acid batteries as a sustainable product is not only environmentally beneficial but also economically beneficial. A typical new lead-acid battery contains up to 80% recycled lead, and the plastic and battery components are also recyclable. When combined, almost all environmentally hazardous materials in the battery can be recycled. In this paper, we will study the recycling of lead-acid batteries used in fuel-powered cars. The results show that 54.4% of the metals in the battery, 28% of the plastics, and 17% of the liquids can be recycled, which provides materials for the manufacture of new batteries or for other uses.

The Spatial Accessibility of High-Capacity Public Transport Networks—The Premise of Sustainable Development

At the present time, the increase in the level of motorization has led to levels of congestion that are difficult for the inhabitants of large cities to bear, with negative implications on quality of life. Solving the problem of congestion can no longer be achieved just by expanding and developing the networks; other solutions must be found that fit the requirements of the sustainable development of society. One of the solutions that is becoming more and more promoted today is that of increasing the degree of use of high-capacity public transport networks. For this, the network must serve a surface as large as possible of the territory, and the operating conditions must deal with transport requests with a varied structure and with different intensities in short time intervals. The paper aims to review several models of the topological accessibility of transport networks and to analyze how the Bucharest metro network serves the territory, after the last extension carried out in 2020. It is noted that only 56% of the city’s surface is currently covered by the metro network, while the city is in a continuous territorial expansion. Through the case study presented in the paper, the accessibility of some points of interest for Bucharest residents who use the metro network is also determined. At the end, there are formulated conclusions regarding the development and territorial coverage of the metro network and proposals for further developments, so that the services offered can benefit as many of Bucharest’s residents as possible.

Directions for Spiritual and Intellectual Upbringing and Teachingof Youth in the 21st Century

The global informatization of society, despite the enormous opportunities it provides for people, has a devastating effect on the individual. There is every reason to believe that the new generation of the digital society may grow up to be superficially minded, easily controlled from the outside, and will have trouble building real relationships. Unspirituality is a significant problem that affects society at various levels. It reflects a decline in moral, cultural, and spiritual values, which leads to the overall degradation of society and the individual. Spirituality is unconscious in humans. It explains the phenomena of conscience and other higher experiences: faith, love, hope, goodness, freedom, responsibility, etc. The formation of the spiritual world of modern youth, the disclosure of its spiritual and intellectual potential should occupy one of the leading places in educational institutions. Spiritually oriented education at the present stage of society's development should become the most effective factor in the formation of a spiritual personality. A spiritually perfect personality is the result of a person's long, hard work on himself or herself, work aimed at gradual self-improvement, conscious building of oneself in order to approach the chosen ideal, which harmoniously combines high human virtues, which makes it possible to fulfill and realize oneself, and thus experience the fullness of human happiness. The education system shapes the future of society, so it is important that the entire education process is subordinated to the task of forming a personality - a person with high positive qualities, capable of a happy life, active self-realization in all spheres of life for their own and the common good - a harmonious personality. To this end, the following areas of spiritual and intellectual upbringing and teaching are offered: development of critical thinking and independence; ethical education; cultural and intercultural education; development of creative abilities; promotion of social interaction and leadership; digital literacy. Examples of relevant lessons that address these objectives are provided. The complex combination of the proposed areas makes spiritual and intellectual upbringing a holistic process aimed at developing a personality capable of self-improvement and achieving harmony in all spheres of life.

Key social determinants of the Russian large family

The article presents a study of the state, dynamics, and social characteristics of large families in modern Russia. The authors analyse the social factors and features of having many children. The large families have undergone significant changes, have been greatly transformed in the process of social development and have a new social significance. Having many children is considered as the highest stage of family development and an indicator of a certain level of socio-economic development of society. It has been revealed that at the current stage of society’s development, quantitative indicators of the large families are decreasing in terms of the number of children, and childless marriages are becoming more widespread and popular. The key determinants and characteristics of the large families are identified such as the increase in their number, predominance of families with three and four children, spread of the large families depending on the region of residence. A negative trend persists which confirms the established pattern: with the birth of every next child, the family becomes low-income and less prosperous. In the large families, this pattern is confirmed: the number of poor family groups is increasing. It is determined that the amount of children affects family relationships, financial situation, and socio-psychological well-being. The focus on creating families with many children is considered a positive factor for the development of the family institution.

Shaping a low-carbon future: Uncovering the spatial-temporal effect of population aging on carbon emissions in China.

With the accelerated development of the aging trend in Chinese society, the aging problem has become one of the key factors affecting sustainable economic and social development. Given the importance of controlling carbon emissions for achieving global climate goals and China's economic transformation, studying the spatial and temporal effects of population aging on carbon emissions and their pathways of action is of great significance for formulating low-carbon development strategies adapted to an aging society. This paper aims to explore the spatial-temporal effects of population aging on carbon emissions, identify the key pathways through which aging affects carbon emissions, and further explore the variability of these effects across different regions. The findings will provide theoretical support and empirical evidence for government departments to formulate policies to promote the coordinated development of a low-carbon society and an aging society. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2004 to 2022, this paper systematically investigates the impact of population aging on carbon emission intensity from both spatial and temporal dimensions by using the spatial Durbin model and the mediating effect model. The direct effect of aging on carbon emission intensity, the spatial spillover effect, and the indirect effect through mediating variables such as residents' consumption, environmental regulation, and new urbanization are analyzed in depth. The study found that population aging in China has significant spatial and temporal effects on carbon emissions. From the spatial dimension, there is a significant spatial spillover effect of the effect of aging on carbon emissions, and aging reduces local carbon emissions but increases carbon emissions in adjacent regions. From the time dimension, the effect of aging on carbon emissions shows a stage characteristic, initially it will reduce carbon emissions, but with the deepening of aging, its effect may tend to weaken. In addition, this study identifies a number of key pathways through which aging affects carbon emissions, including reducing residential consumption, promoting new urbanization, and increasing the intensity of environmental regulations. Finally, this study explores the regional heterogeneity of the impact of aging on carbon emissions and its mechanism of action. This study is instructive: first, the complex impact of population aging on carbon emissions should be fully recognized to formulate a comprehensive low-carbon development strategy; second, attention should be paid to the spatial spillover effect of aging on carbon emissions to strengthen inter-regional cooperation and coordination; and lastly, differentiated low-carbon policies should be formulated to address the characteristics of aging in different regions and stages in order to promote the synergistic development of a low-carbon society and an aging society.

A new future for dog breeding

Abstract The modern idea of purebred dogs has come under increasing critical scrutiny over recent decades. In light of this critical focus and other developments in society, some new trends in how companion dogs are bred and acquired have emerged. This means a diminishing influence from traditional kennel clubs with more dogs being sold without a pedigree, stricter legal restrictions on dog breeding, growing popularity of deliberate crosses of established breeds (i.e. so-called designer breeds) and growing hype around the benefits of mixed-breed dogs. We give an overview of these trends and discuss to what extent they will serve to promote dogs that are innately healthy, have good welfare and function well in their various roles in today’s world. We argue that newly invented designer breeds and mixed breeds also have worrying health and behavioural problems, and that the predictability of purebred dogs with respect to body size, basic behaviours, known need for grooming, disorder profiles and other attributes may well offer some benefits for a satisfying human-dog relationship seen from both sides. The optimal future seems to lie in the middle ground, where the future organised dog world (i.e. kennel and breed clubs or their successor organisations) will need to re-open the breed registries, remove wording from breed standards that currently promotes extreme conformation, support selection against disease-predisposing genotypes and phenotypes and refocus dog showing and breeding to promote health and appropriate behaviour.

Population aging, Chair of Older Adults in the Isle of Youth and development

Introduction: This research projects a current topic related to population aging and the functioning of the University Chair for the Elderly on the Isle of Youth.Objective: To analyze the aging process in Cuba, as well as the functioning of the University Chair for the Elderly on the Isle of Youth.Development: A qualitative approach was used, combining methods to obtain data through observations, interviews, documentary analysis, personal experiences and narratives to explore objectives, nature, possibilities and limitations of the program. The educational program is highly valued in increasing the self-esteem of the elderly, resulting in positive success in the elderly people who make up the chair, increasing awareness of the importance of caring for the elderly.Conclusions: Adult education in Cuba favors the continuous and permanent education of this population sector to put them at the level of technological, social and scientific changes and developments in the current context, thus enabling the increase in their well-being and quality of life. The participants of Isla de la Juventud demonstrate personal successes in the development of skills to face aging and cooperate with the development of society.

Contributions of civil society in the process of socio-economic inclusion in the Republic of Moldova

Immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a long process of transition and social, political and economic reconfiguration followed, for the Republic of Moldova and the other states that were part of the Soviet bloc. Thus, political instability, corruption problems, recent migration, as well as security risks that have emerged more recently due to the war in Ukraine, come with a series of challenges for Moldovan society, and especially for the vulnerable segment. In this fluctuating and complex context, civil society plays an important role in terms of social and economic inclusion and implicitly in consolidating democracy and promoting European values at the level of society in the Republic of Moldova. Given that the process of socio-economic inclusion covers a wide range of areas (social protection, workforce, education, health, security, culture), we want to highlight the role that civil society plays in the process of catching up on socio-economic development in the Republic of Moldova. It is known that civil society has often substitute the lack of reaction or insufficient public policies of the state, but at the same time certain actions of civil society have determined constructive reactions in terms of creating or improving public policies or implementing impact projects that can prevent or solve these sensitive social challenges. Starting from the hypothesis that civil society contributes essentially to the inclusion process, we aim to analyze (through qualitative methods of analysis and process tracking data) some of the contributions of civil society in Moldova in terms of social and economic inclusion and its effects on the development of society. Our analysis will consider vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, NEETs, etc.) who have benefited from social inclusion through projects implemented by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Building energy management model integrating rule-based control algorithm and genetic algorithm

Energy is a crucial material foundation for the development of human society. Building energy consumption accounts for a significant proportion of global energy consumption. Optimizing building energy management is of great significance for achieving sustainable development. A building energy management model that integrates rule-based control algorithm and genetic algorithm is proposed, aiming to optimize building energy utilization and reduce operating costs. Mathematical models for different devices in the building energy system are established, and the rule-based control algorithm is used to provide system decision support. Then, the genetic algorithm is integrated to address the complexity and uncertainty of energy optimization problems. The comparative test results showed that the proposed fusion algorithm had higher fitness values and faster convergence speed. The root mean square errors of the algorithm in the training and testing sets were 43.6544 and 43.6844, with the lowest error and highest accuracy among the four algorithms. The simulation experiment results showed that the building energy management model integrating rule-based control algorithm and genetic algorithm had energy expenditures of 788.3 yuan and 967.6 yuan for two types of buildings, respectively. Taking Building 1 as an example, compared with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Beetle Antennae Search and Particle Swarm Optimization (BAS-PSO) algorithm, and Long Short-Term Memory-Convolutional Neural Network (LSTM-CNN) algorithm, the proposed model reduced the cost of energy consumption optimization by 39.30%, 28.32%, and 20.20%, respectively. Overall, the proposed building energy management model effectively reduces operating costs, utilizes building energy, and contributes to daily building energy management and decision support.

International non-governmental organizations in the field of civil society development: current state and development prospects

This article is devoted to the analysis of the current state and prospects of development of international non-governmental organizations in the field of civil society development. The existence of any modern democratic state is impossible without the presence of a developed civil society, which, on the one hand, acts as the foundation and support for the apparatus of public power, thereby ensuring its stability, and on the other hand, is a legal guarantee for the implementation of both the system of legal principles enshrined in national and international law and the entire system of rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of individuals and legal entities. The institute of international non-governmental organizations in the field of civil society development plays an important role for the development of civil society in nation States, which, on the one hand, generalize at the international level the experience of civil society development in nation States, and on the other hand, contribute to scaling up the successful experience of this development everywhere. In this scientific work, a number of research methods were used, in particular: formal-logical; historical-legal; comparative-legal; statistical; sociological; method of analyzing specific legal situations. The authors identified and analyzed the main problems that hinder the organization and activities of international non-governmental organizations in the field of civil society development, among which the following can be distinguished: a) the dependence of most international non-governmental organizations on national governments or on transnational corporations; b) the politicization of the activities of a significant part of them; c) a huge number of them (more than 75,000 for 2024), which complicates, on the one hand, the processes of regulating their activities, and on the other hand, complicates the mechanism of their organizational, technical, legal and financial support from the international community; d) the presence in a number of countries of regulatory restrictions on the activities of their branches and representative offices; e) the lack of proper public control over their activities, acts and decisions at the national and international levels. The work has developed and justified a system of measures to resolve these problems.

Proposal of strategies based on information and communication technologies (ICT) for the optimization of the teaching function in the field of education in the school of physiotherapy of a private university

The proposal presented focuses its interest on promoting teaching and learning strategies supported by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), for the optimization of the teaching function in the field of university education in the School of Physiotherapy at a public University. located in Valencia, Carabobo state - Venezuela. In this sense, in the educational process, ICT can generate a more active participation of students in the development of their training, through different educational scenarios, through the integration of interactive content, virtual reality, digital content and access to resources and materials through multiplatform software, among others. Additionally, they allow us to overcome the barriers of time and space for training, allowing it to be continuous, being increasingly used, because the rapid development of society is forcing us to reformulate the teaching and learning processes. in the classrooms

Pitch-derived Multifunctional Carbon and Bimetallic Sulfide Composite Electrodes for Aqueous Energy Storage

With the rapid development of society, people's requirements for the ecological environment have become increasingly stringent. Coal tar pitch is a by-product of coal processing, which has low value and serious pollution. Under the circumstance, coal tar pitch-derived carbon materials (CTPC) was successfully prepared with the interconnected three-dimensional porous structure, and then NiCo2S4/CTPC composite materials were obtained. CTPC exhibits high conductivity (15.59 S m-1), large specific surface area (614.9 m2 g-1), and rich porous structure of connected carbon nanosheets. Among composite materials with different CTPC contents, the NiCo2S4/CTPC material exhibits the highest specific capacities under the same conditions. Notably, the capacity of NiCo2S4/CTPC is up to 689.6F·g-1 at 1A·g-1. The assembled asymmetrical supercapacitor (NiCo2S4/CTPC//CTPC) exhibits a long cyclic stability of 4000 cycles at 4A·g-1. When the power density is 3616.44Wkg-1, the energy density is as high as 22Whkg-1. Meanwhile, NiCo2S4/CTPC was used as cathode material to assemble an alkaline battery (NiCo2S4/CTPC//Bi2O3) and then its electrochemical properties were systematically analyzed.

The evolution of civil society in the post-communist Republic of Moldova

Civil society in the Republic of Moldova has undergone significant development since the country gained independence in 1991. From its initial stages of being dominated by a small group of NGOs, Moldovan civil society has grown to encompass a diverse range of organizations working on a wide array of issues. In the early 1990s, civil society in Moldova was nascent and largely focused on humanitarian assistance and human rights issues. The country's transition to a market economy and democracy created a need for independent organizations to provide social services and advocate for the rights of citizens. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Moldovan civil society experienced rapid growth and diversification. New organizations emerged to address a variety of issues, including environmental protection, education, healthcare, and anti-corruption. These organizations played an increasingly important role in shaping public policy and holding the government accountable. In recent years, Moldovan civil society has continued to evolve and adapt to the changing political and social landscape. The country's European Union accession process has brought new challenges and opportunities for civil society organizations. While the EU has provided significant funding and support for civil society development, there have also been concerns about the influence of foreign donors and the increasing politicization of civil society. Despite the progress made in recent decades, Moldovan civil society still faces a number of challenges, including limited funding, weak institutional capacity, and limited public participation. Civil society organizations often struggle to engage the public and build broad support for their work. Despite these challenges, Moldovan civil society has a bright future. The country's young and increasingly educated population is increasingly engaged in civic life. Civil society organizations are playing a critical role in advocating for democratic reforms, promoting human rights, and protecting the environment. Our writing is synthetic and multidisciplinary in its nature. We will try to outline the development curve of the Moldovan civil sphere formed after gaining state independence, showing how this path was formed and what factors had an impact on it, both positive and negative.